Cyclone Chido: Mayotte’s Worst Disaster In 90 Years

December 16, 2024 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

Several hundred people have been killed and thousands more are missing after cyclone chido hits French island of Mayotte.

The French island located in the Indian Ocean territory was hit by cyclone Chido. Winds exceeding 225 km/h (140 mph) flattened entire settlements in the area. An event some have compared to the aftermath of a nuclear attack.

Mayotte’s 300,000+ residents are scavenging for food, water, and shelter. Most of the islanders are impoverished, most of whom are undocumented migrants. The poverty rate on the island is incredibly high, and islanders in impoverished communities are bearing the brunt of the disaster.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern for the inhabitants of the island. In his statement, he said, “My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who have gone through the most horrific few hours and who have, for some, lost everything, lost their lives.”.

And in a post on his social media, Macron said he was “closely following the situation,” adding, “The whole country is on your side.”.

“Reinforcements are here; others will arrive tomorrow,” he said, adding, “It’s time for urgency. We will be there today and tomorrow.”

cyclone chido — ***Relief planes from France have been arriving on the island since Saturday (Reuters)***

France has dispatched a handful of soldiers to help with the rescue efforts, and more are expected to follow. Also, planes filled with medical aid and other essentials have been landing on the island since Saturday.

A journalist living on the island and working with Le Journal de Mayotte likened the situation to an “apocalypse.”.

Survivors are dying of thirst and hunger. French interior minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Mayotte earlier today and assured the survivors of more aid from the French government.

Rescue workers, including French reinforcements, keep searching the island for more survivors, but it’s been a tedious task. Workers are struggling to get to some parts of the island due to debris in some areas.

The scenes on the island are heartbreaking and devastating. Weather analysis suggests cyclone Chido was intensified by climate change.

The cyclone, which also hit Mozambique and the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado, is the worst to hit the island in 90 years.

Click the link below to Watch A video of the Cyclone aftermath.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ckg366kz507t?post=asset%3Aee54b49c-4654-4e29-84f6-51099cb073cf#post